UAE Lottery’s Dh100m winner shares life lessons, future plans and why he intends to return to work.
Abu Dhabi: A year after making history as the UAE’s first Dh100 million lottery winner, Anilkumar Bolla has shared fresh details about his life following the jackpot, including where he lives, how he has used his winnings, his wedding plans and ambitions to establish a multinational artificial intelligence company, in an exclusive interview with Gulf News.
The 30-year-old Indian expat won the UAE Lottery’s Dh100 million jackpot in the Lucky Day Draw on October 18, 2025. He first spoke about the life-changing experience in a statement issued by the lottery operator on October 22, describing the year as “transformative”.
In an email interview with Gulf News, the Abu Dhabi resident reflected on the plans he had outlined to the newspaper a year earlier. He also discussed the challenges of adjusting to sudden wealth and the lessons he has learnt since his historic win.
Taking a career break, with ambitions in AI
One of the biggest changes since his previous interview has been in his professional life. Shortly after winning, Anilkumar, an IT professional from Telangana in southern India, had said he had no immediate plans to quit his job.
A year later, he has stepped away from work temporarily but intends to return to his professional career.
“After the win, I took a break from work. I do plan to work again, but I’m focused on building something of my own at the moment,” he said.
He has also begun exploring investment opportunities in real estate and other businesses while researching potential ventures of his own. However, he has yet to settle on a specific business idea.
Asked about an IT consultancy he had earlier considered setting up with a close colleague, Anilkumar indicated that his ambitions had since expanded.
“My ambition has grown,” he said, outlining a five-year goal of establishing an AI-driven multinational company with operations in both the UAE and India.
He stressed that the idea remains at the research stage, with no company registered or officially launched so far.
“At this stage, I am still researching and haven’t registered or launched my own company yet,” he said. “I don’t want to rush that process.”
Wedding plans on the horizon
Marriage is another milestone Anilkumar is now looking forward to. He was single when he last spoke to Gulf News, but says he hopes to get married by the end of next year.
“Yes, marriage is something I am thinking about for the future. Hopefully, I would like to get married by the end of next year,” he said.
His vision for the next five years extends beyond business ambitions. On the personal front, he hopes to lead a healthier life, get married and, ideally, start a family with at least one child.
“My ambitions are much bigger today than they were before,” he said.
However, he does not believe that achieving something significant necessarily means making an expensive purchase or committing to a single major business venture.
Where is his new home?
A year ago, Anilkumar had spoken about buying his dream villa on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island or Yas Island. He has since invested in two UAE properties, although neither is located on the islands he had originally considered.
One is a villa in Bloom Living, Abu Dhabi, near the airport. The other is a two-bedroom apartment near Dubai Marina, which is still under construction and is expected to be handed over in April 2027.
“So, I haven’t moved in yet,” he said, referring to his Dubai property.
Anilkumar has also applied for the UAE Golden Visa, with his application currently under review. He continues to see the UAE as his home for at least the next decade, maintaining the long-term outlook he shared a year ago.
“I have bought property here and I also want the UAE to be part of my future business plans,” he said.
His family, meanwhile, continues to live in the house his father had always dreamed of owning. His father is reluctant to leave the property, despite Anilkumar having earlier spoken about bringing his family to the UAE.
For now, the lottery winner plans to build his future between India and the UAE.
Investments in India
Beyond his UAE property purchases, Anilkumar has acquired several properties in India, including real estate in major cities and agricultural land.
He has also invested in an off-plan beachfront property, which is scheduled for handover in 2030.
Describing his investment strategy, he said he has adopted a disciplined approach, with real estate forming a significant part of his portfolio. He has also explored opportunities in international markets.
Before his jackpot win, Anilkumar had spoken about the importance of seeking professional advice before making investment decisions.
His family, however, remains at the heart of how he has chosen to spend his winnings. As he revealed earlier, he bought jewellery for his mother and agricultural land for his father, who has an interest in organic farming. He has also extended financial support to his brother.
“Whatever I am able to do for my family means more to me than what I buy for myself,” he said.
Travel has also been part of his new lifestyle. Over the past year, he has visited Bali, Thailand and Amsterdam, alongside several trips to India. Some journeys were with friends, while others were family holidays.
He now hopes to explore another four or five countries in the near future.
Adjusting to life as an overnight multimillionaire
Adapting to life after suddenly becoming a multimillionaire was not entirely straightforward for Anilkumar. While the initial excitement and freedom were welcome, he gradually realised that managing his newfound wealth required greater discipline.
“Initially, everything was very exciting and relaxing, but eventually I realised I needed to become more disciplined,” he said.
He admitted that even coming to terms with the reality of winning the jackpot took time.
“Even accepting that I had actually won took me some time,” he revealed.
One of the biggest challenges was dealing with the expectations of people around him while making careful decisions about his money and future.
“Managing the expectations of people around me while staying calm and making the right decisions has probably been one of the biggest challenges of the past year,” he said.
He added that it was an experience that was difficult to understand fully until someone found themselves in that position.
